The Highland Falcon Thief Read online

  Since they had left, a host of volunteers had clearly been busy decorating Ballater station for the royal departure. The Highland Falcon was in her proper formation – her gleaming locomotive at the front, ready to pull her carriages back along the line to Aberdeen – and hundreds of people lined the road outside, waving Union Jacks.

  ‘Wow.’ Hal stared out the window at the happy faces.

  ‘The branch line hasn’t been used for a long time,’ Uncle Nat said. ‘Tragically, the station burned down a few years back, so today is a cause for celebration.’

  Their car stopped beside a red carpet that led through the station to the platform, and they all got out. Hal blushed as people cheered. He hoped no one was looking at his muddy knees.

  The prince and the princess were in the last car. Hal was getting on the train when he heard the crowds go wild.

  ‘I should stay and watch,’ Uncle Nat said, as the prince shook hands with a pensioner, and a girl stumbled forward with a bouquet for the princess. ‘But you should probably go and change your clothes.’

  Stepping through the door of their compartment was a relief. Hal pulled the blind down and quickly got into jeans and the maroon-and-navy jumper his mum had knitted for him. As he sat down on the floor to pull on his trainers, he found a piece of paper in one of his shoes. On it was written: Order scones for Birsemore station.

  He took his sketchbook from the blazer pocket and tucked the paper inside. It was a note from Lenny.

  Uncle Nat came in and sank on to the sofa. ‘I don’t know how they do it, all that smiling – and after such a big lunch. I don’t think I’ll eat for days.’

  Hal looked up. ‘Where is Birsemore station?’

  ‘It’s a few stops along the line,’ his uncle replied, getting comfy. ‘About half an hour away. We won’t be stopping though. Now the prince and princess are on board, the train will slow down through every station so they can wave to the crowds.’

  ‘Would you mind if I ordered scones?’

  ‘Didn’t Gladys feed you?

  ‘Yes … I, er, thought I might be peckish again in half an hour.’

  ‘Go ahead.’ Uncle Nat shook his head in wonder. ‘You must have hollow legs.’ He closed his eyes. ‘I think I’ll let my thoughts percolate and write up today’s activities later.’ His breathing became heavy. ‘Say something to Gordon about those trousers, won’t you?’

  A minute later, Uncle Nat was making snoring noises.

  Hal pressed the intercom buzzer.

  ‘Hello? How may I help you?’ Amy’s voice crackled through the speaker.

  ‘I’d like scones at Birsemore station,’ Hal said in a low voice. ‘This is Harrison – Harrison Beck.’

  ‘Perhaps Sir would like to eat the scones in the gentlemen’s lounge?’

  ‘Er, yes, I would. Thank you.’ He let go of the button.

  Hal dashed to the observation car to see the prince and princess greeting the crowds. When they were done, the Highland Falcon blew her whistle, and steamed out of Ballater station with the crowds cheering. Isaac was out on the veranda, snapping pictures of the waving onlookers either side of the tracks. Hal stood beside the photographer, watching the rails spooling out behind them as Balmoral disappeared.

  ‘Shut those doors,’ Milo growled from a leather armchair. ‘It’s freezing in here.’

  Apologizing as he came back inside, Hal wondered if the sight of Hadrian had upset Milo. He chose a seat in the corner and took out his sketchbook. Hal looked down at the words he had copied down from Milo’s letter and wondered who his accomplice might be. Sierra Knight, maybe? He needed to speak with Lenny urgently!

  As the train rumbled back towards Aberdeen, Hal’s pen turned a fresh blank page into a picture of Balmoral.

  He silently thanked Queen Victoria for the speed restriction. It was much easier to draw when the train travelled slowly.

  On the approach to Birsemore, Hal made his way back through the train, passing Ernest White and the baron playing billiards. Lucy Meadows was in the library reading a book. With a jolt, Hal saw it was Steam of the Dragon, but he didn’t have time to stop. The Highland Falcon was slowing to a crawl, and waving crowds were visible from the window.

  Lady Lansbury was sat playing patience with a deck of cards in the gentlemen’s lounge. Hal entered, taking a seat at a table on the opposite side of the carriage. He turned away from her, looking out of the window next to him.

  Amy arrived with a tray held against her shoulder. She placed a plate of two scones, a pot of strawberry jam and a dish of clotted cream on the table in front of Hal’s armchair. Then she lifted down an old-fashioned cream telephone with a gold rotary dial, plugged the cable into a socket in the wall, and winked at him.

  Rowan entered the carriage as Amy left, sitting down opposite Lady Lansbury.

  ‘Did you take the dogs to the toilet before the train left?’ Lady Lansbury asked coldly.

  ‘I did.’ Rowan nodded. ‘All bagged and labelled.’

  ‘Good. And did you feed them?’

  Rowan shot a sideways glance at Hal. ‘Not yet.’

  ‘What do you mean, not yet?’ Lady Lansbury demanded in an angry whisper. ‘For goodness sake, do it at once!’ She paused, then said loudly, ‘The poor dears must be starving.’

  Hal cut his scones in half and smeared jam across them. A small red light on the telephone flashed at him. He put down the knife and picked up the receiver. ‘Hello?’

  ‘It’s me,’ said Lenny’s voice.

  ‘Where are you?’ he whispered into the phone.

  ‘I’m in the generator room, at the front of the train.’

  ‘Where?’

  ‘Near the luggage cage. Remember? Come and find me – and bring the scones.’

  ‘But I can’t … Hello? Lenny?’

  The line was dead.

  Hal replaced the receiver and glanced across the carriage. Lady Lansbury was on her own again. Quickly adding cream to the scones, he gathered them into a napkin. How was he going to get to the other end of the train? He’d have to go through the royal carriage, which was now occupied and guarded. He got up with his parcel of scones and announced, ‘I think I will go and eat these in my room.’

  CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

  THE ELECTRIC NEST

  Walking through the train with his scones, Hal tried to think of a good reason for having to pass through the royal carriage. He reached the forbidding door, took a deep breath, and knocked.

  ‘Excuse me, sir,’ he said to the beefy man in a navy-blue suit who opened it. ‘I know I’m not allowed through here, but the train guard, Graham … Have you met him? He’s ever so kind … Well, it’s his birthday –’ Hal could hear himself gabbling – ‘and I’ve got some scones for him, as a present.’ He held up the napkin. ‘And I was hoping you’d let me pass through to give them to him? I want to sing him “Happy Birthday”.’ He smiled his politest smile. ‘You can search me or escort me, if you like?’

  The guard chuckled and waved him through, putting a finger to his lips.

  Hal gratefully scurried through the living room to the corridor. Hadrian was standing guard in front of the prince and princess’s compartment, where Hal had first discovered Lenny.

  The bodyguard looked even bigger indoors because he had to stoop to prevent his head from hitting the ceiling. Hal’s heart pounded as he walked past, smiling at the man, who replied with a piercing look.

  Stepping into the service car, Hal closed the door behind him and collapsed against it with relief. Once he’d caught his breath, he darted past the luggage cage to the door with the yellow triangle on it and knocked. The door opened, and a hand shot out, grabbing his wrist and pulling him inside.

  ‘Well?’ Lenny demanded, taking the scones. ‘What happened? Did he try to steal it? What’s Balmoral like? Did you see the necklace?’

  The generator room was hot, dark, and stank of diesel. An unnerving buzzing noise came from a giant metal unit covered in blinking lights and sprouting ca
bles of many colours. On the floor in front of it, Lenny had made a nest from old towels and tablecloths.

  ‘Is it safe in here?’

  ‘Course it is, as long as you don’t touch the generator. C’mon – sit down. I want to hear what happened.’

  ‘Nothing happened, but—’

  ‘Nothing?’ Lenny looked appalled. ‘Are you sure?’

  ‘Let me finish. When we arrived at Balmoral, I was sent to eat in the kitchen with the castle children, but I tricked this boy called Ivan into taking me outside so I could watch the adults through the window.’

  ‘That was clever.’

  Hal felt himself blushing at the half lie. ‘The princess was wearing the necklace the whole time.’

  ‘You saw it? What’s the Atlas Diamond like?’

  ‘Big and sparkly?’

  Lenny rolled her eyes.

  ‘Milo sat next to the princess at lunch, but he couldn’t pinch it – there were too many people watching. And I’m not sure he’s going to be able to steal it at all, because there’s this giant guard called Hadrian who never lets it out of his sight.’

  ‘But Milo must have known the necklace would be guarded.’

  ‘There’s more.’ Hal paused. ‘I found something …’ He enjoyed the look of intrigue on Lenny’s face. ‘I ran around to the front of the castle, to the porch, where all the coats were hanging.’

  Lenny sat up on her knees. ‘You didn’t?’

  Hal nodded. ‘I searched his coat pockets.’

  ‘And?’

  ‘There was a note.’

  ‘Did you read it? What did it say?’

  Pulling out his book, Hal turned to the page where he’d copied down the note and passed it to Lenny.

  ‘He has an accomplice,’ said Lenny breathlessly. ‘Of course!’ She shoved half a scone smothered in jam into her mouth. ‘That’s how he’s going to do it.’

  ‘But you should see how heavily it’s guarded. When the princess wears it, Hadrian follows her like a shadow. And when she takes it off, it gets locked in a metal briefcase and handcuffed to Hadrian’s wrist.’

  ‘If Milo does steal the necklace, I’ll be impressed,’ Lenny said, spraying crumbs everywhere.

  ‘The note says Stick to the plan –’ Hal tapped the sketchbook – ‘so they must think they can steal it.’

  ‘Maybe the guard’s in on it?’ said Lenny, taking Hal’s book and flicking through it. ‘Or maybe they’re going to snatch it and not care who sees?’

  ‘You know what I keep thinking?’ Hal said. ‘A brooch is like a badge. It’s pinned to your clothes.’

  ‘Yeah – so?’

  ‘It would be hard to steal one without someone noticing. You’d have to have quick fingers.’

  ‘Or Mrs Pickle would have to be as thick as porridge,’ Lenny said. ‘Which she is.’

  ‘I’m not so sure.’

  Lenny came to Milo’s portrait and stared at Hal’s drawing. ‘That scar. He looks like a jewel thief.’

  ‘He was acting weird at Balmoral. When there was a kerfuffle with the dogs, everyone rushed forward except for Milo. He slunk right back against the porch and then disappeared.’

  ‘What kerfuffle?’

  ‘Rowan lost control of the dogs, and they knocked the princess over,’ said Hal. ‘He’s a terrible dog handler. Lady Lansbury was furious – she embarrassed him in front of everyone. But d’you know, I noticed something odd – Rowan called Bailey a boy, and Lady Lansbury got all their names wrong. If they were my dogs, I’d never get their names wrong.’

  ‘Yeah, but you love dogs!’ Lenny held up the double page of Samoyed sketches Hal had done.

  ‘True.’ Hal laughed. ‘So, what are we going to do?’

  ‘The royal tour officially kicks off when we get to Aberdeen. You can bet the princess will be wearing the famous necklace. People want to see it.’

  ‘You think that’s when the Magpie will strike?’

  ‘Yes. The accomplice’s job will be to distract Hadrian,’ Lenny said. ‘Create a diversion.’

  ‘Who do you think the accomplice is?’ Hal asked.

  ‘It could be Sierra. She’s always whispering in his ear, and we know she’s stolen before.’

  ‘That’s what I was thinking.’

  Lenny nodded. ‘You must stay close to the necklace. Don’t let anything distract you from watching it.’ The carriage tilted and slowed. She checked her watch. ‘We’re back at Ferryhill Sidings – you should go.’

  Turning on his heel, Hal dashed through the service cars, then slowed and walked timidly into the royal carriage. He saw Hadrian bow and step aside as the prince and princess emerged from their compartment. The princess had changed into an emerald-green dress, but she was still wearing the Atlas Diamond, as Lenny had said she would. He followed the royal party at a discreet distance to the observation car, as the train rumbled into Aberdeen station.

  Cheering crowds were packed six or seven deep along the platform. Hal felt a bubbling up of joy as he watched the awe on the faces of people seeing the Highland Falcon for the first time. He realized how lucky he was to be on this train. He looked about for his uncle and spotted him chatting to Ernest White.

  ‘Uncle Nat,’ Hal said, crossing the carriage, ‘I didn’t say it before, but thank you for bringing me on the Highland Falcon.’ He felt a blush creep up his cheeks. ‘It’s really cool.’

  A smile stretched across his uncle’s face. ‘See, Ernest – I’ll make a chuffer nutter out of him yet. I’m glad you’re enjoying yourself, Hal.’

  Hal nodded. ‘I am.’

  Isaac was already working, taking pictures. The princess was with Sierra beside the door to the veranda. She fanned herself with her hand and said, ‘Do you have perfume in your purse?’

  ‘Always,’ Sierra took an octagonal bottle from her handbag.

  ‘Gyastara – that’s my favourite.’

  ‘Mine too.’ Sierra spritzed the princess’s neck.

  ‘How do I look?’ The princess appeared nervous.

  ‘You’re perfect.’

  The distant parps of a brass band got louder as the train crawled along the platform. The princess turned, catching Hal staring at her. ‘It’s exciting, isn’t it?’ she said.

  ‘Aren’t you worried about wearing your necklace?’ Hal blurted out. ‘What if it’s stolen?’

  ‘I don’t have to worry. Hadrian takes care of everything for me.’ She pointed over Hal’s shoulder at Hadrian standing right behind him. She cupped her mouth with a hand and whispered, ‘It gets a bit heavy though.’

  ‘Oh.’ Hal was unsure what to reply, and the princess giggled.

  The other train guests were in the carriage now. Milo was propped against the bar, on his own. The Highland Falcon came to a halt, releasing a cloud of steam, and the prince and princess stepped out on to the veranda. The crowd roared with delight, and Hal couldn’t help smiling. The royal couple were helped on to the platform by an attendant, who introduced them to a beaming man in a black suit with an enormous gold chain and medallion around his neck.

  ‘The Lord Mayor of Aberdeen,’ Uncle Nat said, scribbling in his pocket book.

  ‘Are we getting off?’ Hal asked, his eyes following the necklace.

  ‘No. The royal couple will exchange pleasantries, Isaac will take pictures, and then we’ll be on our way on the first leg of the royal tour.’ He looked at Hal. ‘This evening, there’ll be a feast to celebrate. Everyone has to wear their best togs.’

  ‘But my smart trousers are all muddy.’ Hal panicked, realizing he’d forgotten to ask Gordon to clean them. ‘Can I wear my jeans?’

  ‘No. No jeans.’ Uncle Nat shook his head. ‘Don’t worry – Gordon said he has tartan trousers that match the blazer. We can borrow those.’

  Hal gasped with horror. ‘Tartan trousers!’

  Uncle Nat burst out laughing.

  ‘Are you joking?’

  ‘You should have seen your face!’ Uncle Nat hooted. ‘Tartan trousers!’
/>   Hal shook his head and grinned at his uncle. ‘You got me.’

  The station ceremony was brief. Hal kept his eyes on the Atlas Diamond, but no one came within a metre of it, and Hadrian was there, constant as a shadow. When the royal couple stepped back on to the veranda, the whistle blew, and the crowd cheered as the Highland Falcon pulled away.

  The train was swallowed by a tunnel as she travelled under Aberdeen. The glass of the observation car turned black, and the room was lit up by the carriage’s electric chandeliers. The royal couple came inside, followed by a swirl of soot and smoke, and there was a smattering of applause from the guests.

  Hal looked around the observation car at the chattering crowd. Amy was passing among them, offering drinks. It felt exactly like the night before, when Lydia Pickle’s brooch disappeared.

  Sierra put a record on, and music filled the carriage. ‘Here’s to a wonderful last hurrah for the Highland Falcon and a delightful first hurrah for my darling friend and her handsome husband!’ She lifted her glass, took a sip, and started dancing.

  The princess laughed as the prince held out his right hand. She took it, and he spun her into his left arm, a swift and impressive dance move. Hal watched as the Atlas Diamond swung away from her neck, its chain catching on the prince’s lapel button. As the prince spun her back out, Hal watched aghast … as the necklace broke apart.

  The egg-sized diamond dropped to the floor and shattered into a thousand pieces.

  CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

  A BROKEN ATLAS

  Every person in the observation car gasped, but Sierra screamed. There was a long silence as they all stared at the smashed diamond, its fragments scattered across the floor.

  Hal was no expert on diamonds, but he knew they shouldn’t shatter. The princess looked like she was going to faint. Hal felt a firm hand on his shoulder. Uncle Nat was beside him as the train emerged from the tunnel and was flooded with light.